February Machine Tool Consumption Down 9.7%

February U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $268.37 million, according to the Association for Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 9.7% from January, and down 6.3% from the total of $286.29 million reported for February 2006. With a year-to-date total of $565.54 million, 2007 was up 9.4% compared with 2006.


These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

The first two months of the year fit the forecast pattern of slower growth in 2007," said John B. Byrd III, AMT President. "The strength of U.S. manufacturing activity is likely to continue this pattern of moderate growth in the coming months."

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment.  ; Analysis of machine tool consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. machine tool consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic break-downs of the U.S.

Northeast Region
February manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region totaled $41.08 million, 22.7% lower than the $53.12 million tallied in January and down 5.1% when compared with February 2006. At $94.20 million, year-to-date consumption was up 26.8%.

Southern Region
With a $37.29 million total, February manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region was up 16.8% compared with January's $31.94 million, but down 9.1% when compared with February last year. The year-to-date total of $69.23 million was down 11.6% from the comparable total a year ago.

Midwestern Region
Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in February stood at $65.34 million, 15.9% less than January's $77.69 million and 32.3% less than the total for February 2006. With a year-to-date total of $143.03 million, 2007 is running 14.5% behind 2006 at the same time.

Central Region
At $89.63 million, February manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was 18.5% higher than January's $75.66 million, and up 31% when compared with February a year ago. The year-to-date total of $165.29 million was 35.2% higher than the 2006 total at the same time.

Western Region
February manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region totaled $35.03 million, a 40.4% drop from January's $58.76 million and 5.6% less than the February 2006 figure. At $93.79 million, year-to-date consumption was up 25.9% compared with the comparable figure a year ago.